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How to Say "sharks" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tiburones

/tee-boo-ROH-nes//tiβuˈɾones/

NounA1General
Use 'tiburones' when referring to the actual marine animals known as sharks that swim in the ocean.
An illustration showing two simple gray sharks swimming together peacefully in the bright blue ocean.

Examples

Los tiburones nadan muy rápido en el mar.

Sharks swim very fast in the sea.

Hay diferentes especies de tiburones en el Caribe.

There are different species of sharks in the Caribbean.

En el mundo de los negocios, hay muchos tiburones que solo buscan dinero.

In the business world, there are many sharks who only look for money.

Forming Plurals

Since the singular form 'tiburón' ends in a consonant ('n'), you add '-es' to make it plural: 'tiburón' becomes 'tiburones'. Remember that the accent mark disappears in the plural form.

Gender Confusion

Mistake: “La tiburones”

Correction: Los tiburones. Although the word refers to an animal, it is a masculine noun and always uses the masculine article 'los'.

lobos

LOH-bos/ˈlo.βos/

NounB2Business, Figurative
Use 'lobos' figuratively to describe people who are predatory or ruthless, especially in business or financial dealings.
A stylized, greedy person aggressively hoarding a large pile of gold coins and shiny objects.

Examples

En el mercado financiero, hay muchos lobos buscando aprovecharse de los novatos.

In the financial market, there are many wolves (predators) looking to take advantage of novices.

En el mercado financiero, hay muchos **lobos** buscando aprovecharse de los novatos.

In the financial market, there are many wolves (predators) looking to take advantage of novices.

Cuidado con esa empresa, sus directivos son unos **lobos** que solo piensan en el dinero.

Be careful with that company; their executives are wolves who only think about money.

Figurative Language

This meaning uses the animal's reputation for hunting and aggression to describe human behavior. It's a metaphor.

Confusing Marine Animals with Business Predators

The most common mistake is using 'tiburones' when you mean 'lobos' in a business context. Remember, 'tiburones' are the actual fish, while 'lobos' are the predatory people in finance or business. Using 'tiburones' for people can sound strange or incorrect.

Related Translations

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